Heat transfer system without a rotating seal

Abstract

A fluid heat transfer system including a motor and a tank located in adjacent compartments. The motor includes a rotatable shaft extending into the tank having an opposed end connected to an impeller for circulating a heated working fluid through the system. A hollow tube surrounding the rotatable shaft extends from the motor into the tank and forms a leak proof seal between the tube and the tank so that the fluid will not leak outside of the tank. The fluid circulates through numerous tubes positioned within the tank having respective inside surfaces which are each provided with a heating unit therein for collectively heating fluid as the fluid passes between each respective inside surface and heating unit. The tubes have dimples formed therein for more efficiently heating the fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fluid heat transfer system comprising: 
       a tank having an inlet and an outlet in communication therebetween for circulating a fluid, said tank further having a guiding region; and  
       a motor including a rotatable shaft extending therefrom having an opposed end, said rotatable shaft extending into said tank, said opposed end being connected to an impeller for circulating said fluid, said impeller being rotatably carried by said guiding region within said tank so that said fluid may flow between said impeller and said guiding region without leaking outside of said tank.  
     
     
       2. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 1  further comprising a hollow tube surrounding said rotatable shaft for substantially the length of said rotatable shaft, said hollow tube extending into said tank. 
     
     
       3. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 1  wherein said motor is located atop said tank. 
     
     
       4. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 1  wherein said fluid flowing between said impeller and said guiding region provides lubricity therewith. 
     
     
       5. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 1  wherein said guiding region comprises a flanged bushing. 
     
     
       6. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 5  wherein said flanged bushing further defines a sleeve portion for rotatably carrying said impeller. 
     
     
       7. A fluid heat transfer system comprising: 
       a tank having an inlet and an outlet in communication therebetween for circulating a fluid inside said tank, said tank further having a guiding region;  
       a heat baffle associated with said tank for reducing the amount of thermal energy escaping from said tank;  
       a plurality of fluid tubes in communication with said inlet and said outlet, said fluid tubes each adapted to receive a respective heating unit therein for heating said fluid passing between said fluid tubes and said respective heating units; and  
       a motor including a rotatable shaft extending therefrom having an opposed end, said rotatable shaft extending through said heat baffle and into said tank, said opposed end being connected to an impeller for circulating said fluid.  
     
     
       8. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7 , wherein said impeller being rotatably carried by said guiding region within said tank so that said fluid may flow between said impeller and said guiding region without leaking outside of said tank. 
     
     
       9. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  wherein said heat baffle is comprised of a plurality of parallel plates. 
     
     
       10. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  wherein said heat baffle is located atop said tank. 
     
     
       11. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  further comprising a hollow tube surrounding said rotatable shaft for substantially the length of said shaft, said hollow tube extending into said tank. 
     
     
       12. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  wherein said fluid tubes are symmetrically spaced radially about said shaft so that the operating load applied to said impeller is balanced. 
     
     
       13. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  further comprising a thermally insulative layer surrounding said fluid tubes. 
     
     
       14. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  further comprising a filtering device located within said tank between said inlet and said outlet. 
     
     
       15. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  wherein each said fluid tube has a plurality of dimples formed therein to increase thermal efficiency of said heating unit. 
     
     
       16. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  further comprising a fan located outside of said tank, said fan in ventilating communication with said motor for dissipating heat generated by said fluid heat transfer system such that said motor does not over heat. 
     
     
       17. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 7  further comprising a manifold defining a mixing region in communication with said fluid tubes. 
     
     
       18. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 15  wherein each said fluid tube has a plurality of aligned first opposing dimples formed therein to increase the thermal efficiency of said heating unit. 
     
     
       19. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 18  wherein each said fluid tube has a plurality of second opposing dimples formed therein to increase the thermal efficiency of said heating unit. 
     
     
       20. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 19  wherein said first and second opposed dimples are alternately formed in each said fluid tube formed therein to increase the thermal efficiency of said heating unit. 
     
     
       21. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 20  wherein said second opposed dimples are formed in each said fluid tube after rotating said fluid tube ninety degrees after forming said first opposed dimples in said fluid tube formed therein in order to increase the thermal efficiency of said heating unit. 
     
     
       22. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 16  wherein said fan circulates ambient air for dissipating heat generated by said fluid heat transfer system to reduce said motor temperature. 
     
     
       23. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 17  wherein said manifold defines an annular region. 
     
     
       24. A fluid heat transfer system comprising: 
       a tank having an inlet and an outlet in communication therebetween for circulating a fluid inside said tank;  
       a plurality of dimpled fluid tubes disposed between said inlet and said outlet, said fluid tubes each adapted to receive a plurality of heating units therein for heating said fluid passing between said fluid tubes and said heating units due to said dimpled fluid tubes causing said fluid to flow in a turbulent manner; and  
       a motor including a rotatable shaft extending therefrom having an opposed end, said rotatable shaft being surrounded by a hollow tube for substantially the length of said shaft, said hollow tube and said shaft extending into said tank, said opposed end being connected to an impeller for circulating said fluid.  
     
     
       25. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 24  wherein said heating unit is of electroresistive composition. 
     
     
       26. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 24  wherein said heating unit is a cartridge heater. 
     
     
       27. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 24  wherein said heating unit is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
       28. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 24  wherein said tank further comprises a guiding region for rotatably carrying said impeller. 
     
     
       29. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 28  wherein said fluid may flow between said impeller and said guiding region without leaking outside of said tank. 
     
     
       30. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 28  wherein said fluid flowing between said impeller and said guiding region provides lubricity therewith. 
     
     
       31. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 28  wherein said guiding region comprises a flanged bushing. 
     
     
       32. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 31  wherein said flanged bushing further defines a sleeve portion for rotatably carrying said impeller. 
     
     
       33. A fluid heat transfer system comprising: 
       a tank having an inlet and an outlet in communication therebetween for circulating a fluid, said tank further having a guiding region;  
       a filtering device located within said tank between said inlet and said outlet for filtering said fluid passing through said tank; and  
       a motor including a rotatable shaft extending therefrom having an opposed end, said rotatable shaft extending into said tank, said opposed end being connected to an impeller for circulating said fluid, said impeller being rotatably carried by said guiding region within said tank so that said fluid may flow between said impeller and said guiding region without leaking outside of said tank.  
     
     
       34. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 33  wherein said filtering device comprises a screen. 
     
     
       35. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 33  wherein said filtering device defines a reduced pressure region for propelling said fluid through the fluid heat transfer system. 
     
     
       36. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 34  wherein said filtering device is centered for balancing the operating load applied to said impeller by said fluid. 
     
     
       37. The fluid heat transfer system according to  claim 36  further comprising a plurality of fluid tubes in communication with said inlet and said outlet, said fluid tubes each adapted to receive a respective heating unit therein for heating said fluid passing between said fluid tubes and said respective heating units, said fluid tubes being symmetrically positioned about said rotatable shaft for balancing the operating load applied to said impeller by said fluid.